The Ultimate Washington, DC Quiz

New York and Chicago might have skyscrapers, but those buildings cower in importance before the magnificent Washington Monument and the Capitol Building. The memorials to Abraham Lincoln, WWII, Vietnam, and Korea remind us of the great sacrifices America has made in the name of freedom and democracy. And let's not forget the great restaurants, museums and exciting nightlife! Take our quiz and discover just how much a fun a trip to Washington D.C. can be.

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Question 1 of 20

How many people visit D.C. each year?

five million

10 million

20 million

More than 20 million people come the U.S. capital each year to enjoy its monuments, museums, and cuisine.

Question 2 of 20

Which two states donated land for the city?

Maryland and Virginia

D.C. is surrounded by Maryland and Virginia, both of which donated land for the city.

Virginia and Delaware

Maryland and Pennsylvania

Question 3 of 20

How large is Washington D.C.?

68 square miles

At just 68 square miles (176 square kilometers), D.C. is not a very large city. It was originally designed to be 100 square miles, but the 32 miles donated by Virginia were returned in 1847.

100 square miles

168 square miles

Question 4 of 20

How are the names of D.C. streets running north to south organized?

numerically

You will notice that the streets that go north to south are numbered, extending outward from the Capitol.

alphabetically

by names of states

Question 5 of 20

Streets that run diagonally are all named after what?

former presidents

states

The diagonal streets in Washington are all named after states, with Pennsylvania and Maryland meeting at the Capitol.

former mayors

Question 6 of 20

Approximately how many people live in D.C.?

1/2 million

More than half a million people live in the city, which is considerable given its size.

one million

1.5 million

Question 7 of 20

How would residents describe the weather patterns in D.C.?

balmy

unpredictable

Washington's weather is entirely unpredictable. Some winters you get a few feet of snow, while other years you get only a few inches. The temperatures vary greatly from day to day regardless of the season, so be forewarned.

stable

Question 8 of 20

How much will a one-way taxi ride from BWI airport cost you?

$15

$35

$65

Baltimore Washington International airport is really in Baltimore, M.D., an hour away from D.C. If you land there, expect to pay around $65 dollars for a taxi to the District.

Question 9 of 20

Where does D.C. rank in terms of traffic?

first

second

third

Washington D.C. is third, behind Los Angeles and San Francisco, among the worst traffic-ridden cities in the U.S. Add to that the difficulties navigating the city and you'll understand why most residents prefer the light-rail system.

Question 10 of 20

How do D.C.'s residents refer to the light-rail system?

Light rail

The Metro

D.C.'s Metrorail system is a brilliantly designed light-rail system that gets you to just about any part of the city -- not Georgetown, though -- in a few minutes. Residents call it "the Metro."

D.C. Light

Question 11 of 20

The majority of tourist attractions are in which quadrant of D.C.?

north east

north west

The vast majority of tourist attractions, including the White House, Capitol Building, and Smithsonian Museums, are located in the Northwest quadrant.

south east

Question 12 of 20

Which of these festivals attracts more than one million visitors to D.C. every year?

National Cherry Blossom Festival

The beauty and serenity of D.C.'s cherry blossoms, combined with the one million people who annually attend the National Cherry Blossom Festival, make for one of the exciting times on the D.C. calendar.

Washington D.C. Film Festival

Presidential Inauguration Ball

Question 13 of 20

How many columns does the Lincoln Memorial have?

13

36

At the time of Lincoln's assassination the United States was made up of 36 states, and each is represented with a column at his memorial, on the west end of the Capitol Mall.

50

Question 14 of 20

Which of these famous speeches is inscribed on the wall of the Lincoln Memorial?

The Gettysburg Address

On the wall of the southern chamber of the Lincoln Memorial is an inscription of the Gettysburg Address. The northern chamber has an inscription of his Second Inaugural Address.

The First Inaugural Address

The Emancipation Proclamation

Question 15 of 20

What is the name of the D.C. museum devoted to flight and space exploration?

The Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum is one of the most popular museums on the Mall. Get there early, because the lines are quite long.

The NASA Museum

The Wright Brothers' Memorial

Question 16 of 20

How many paintings by Leonardo da Vinci are housed at the National Art Gallery?

one

There is only one painting by da Vinci anywhere outside of Europe, and it is housed at the National Art Gallery, at 600 Constitution Ave. NW.

three

five

Question 17 of 20

How tall is the Washington Monument?

444 feet

555 feet

The tallest building in D.C., by law, is the Washington Monument, which stands at exactly 555 feet (169 meters) tall. You can climb the 898 steps to the top, if you really want to.

666 feet

Question 18 of 20

Including the National Zoo, how many Smithsonian Museums are there?

8

19

The 19 museums of the Smithsonian make up the world's largest collection of museums.

27

Question 19 of 20

What is the name of Washington D.C.'s football team?

the Senators

the Wizards

the Redskins

The Washington Redskins are the much-beloved football team of Washington D.C., though their name has been a source for controversy for many years.

Question 20 of 20

Which of these men designed Washington D.C.?

Benjamin Franklin

George Washington

Charles L'Enfant

Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a French-born American patriot, was the primary architect of the city of Washington, D.C.